tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post5121216423316329306..comments2024-03-23T06:50:28.304-05:00Comments on PERPETUAL FOLLY: The New Yorker: "The Bell Ringer" by John BurnsideUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post-65303385568283875272008-03-15T20:32:00.000-05:002008-03-15T20:32:00.000-05:00I also liked the story a lot although I didn't say...I also liked the story a lot although I didn't say so in my previous post. There are two very different questions: How much did I like the work? Do I think the work is of great quality? I think Cliff gave reasons why he doesn't think the story is of the highest quality, and I agree with Cliff. But I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it.<BR/><BR/>Paul EpsteinPaul Epsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14875799188044948632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post-15808373872489672002008-03-15T11:57:00.000-05:002008-03-15T11:57:00.000-05:00Funny, I liked the story a lot. I guess because I ...Funny, I liked the story a lot. I guess because I have been in that kind of relationship and I thought he did very well describing it from the woman's perspective. Although, it didn't seem quite so believable that she wouldn't have talked to Martha, who seemed to be her good friend, and instead ran away from her...no woman I know would do that anyway. I think I liked the landscape descriptions, the bell ringing and that, so it was not so much the plot I responded to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9878002.post-32389778311921355982008-03-13T18:51:00.000-05:002008-03-13T18:51:00.000-05:00Ok, I'll try and be brief this time. I agree with...Ok, I'll try and be brief this time. I agree with Cliff that the plot is corny and predictable, and that the story is therefore disappointing. I think the characters do have depth -- I disagree on this. I also think that the young American's involvement in the group is fully plausible. Many clubs or groups have one person who joined for an unusual reason, and doesn't fit in. His reason is that he's interested as a tourist in what he sees as an historical British activity. My opinion is that the only weakness is the corny O'Henry-type plot. Sorry, I went on longer than I plannedPaul Epsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14875799188044948632noreply@blogger.com